‘When I arrived I was checked and I was 3cm, when I was checked again I was 4cm then I was fully very quickly, but baby was very high and back to back so I had a caesarean birth. Even though this was not a planned caesarean birth, staff were very reassuring and kept me calm. My baby needs antibiotics and it’s lovely that I can go with him when he goes to SCBU to have them. When I use the call bell staff come as soon as they can and help me’.  ‘All members of staff have made this…

Pre-eclampsia usually isn’t diagnosed until at least 20 weeks of pregnancy, but it actually starts early on.  If the blood vessels in your placenta don’t embed properly into your womb, it means the blood flow from the placenta to baby isn’t as optimal as usual.  Your body tries to compensate for this by tightening all the blood vessels in your body, in order to send more blood to your baby.  This in turn increases your blood pressure and eventually the blood vessel walls will start to become damaged, creating small holes.  These holes let some fluids from your bloodstream leak…

Everyone reacts to having a heart problem in different ways. Some people take it in their stride, but others may have more trouble coming to terms with it. Don’t worry if you do experience emotional upheaval, this is a natural reaction to the stress of an unexpected or traumatic event like a heart attack. They’re also common reactions to having heart surgery. Emotions like feeling worried, anxious, angry and low may come and go. You may have good days and bad days. On bad days, you may feel less able to cope with things you’d normally deal with just fine.…

The Delivery Suite at Hereford County Hospital provides both Consultant-led and Midwife-led care. It is situated on the second floor, adjacent to the Maternity Ward. The Delivery Suite is equipped to meet your needs and you will be offered the full range and choice of pain relief options, depending on your birth plan. Once you’ve had your baby, you’ll move to the Maternity Ward.  Our delivery suite comprises of five, good sized birthing rooms. Each room has an ensuite bathroom, birthing bed and reclining chair for birth partners. We have equipment to help you personalise your room such as projector lights,…

  Service overview The Health Psychology and Neuropsychology Service provides specialist psychology services for people affected by Acquired Brain Injury, Stroke, Cancer, Palliative Care and Long-Term Physical Health Conditions. We provide psychological support through individual, couple or sometimes family sessions, through groups, and by advising and supporting other services. We use a range of psychological approaches, and are staffed by clinical psychologists, counsellors/psychological therapists, an assistant psychologist and administrators. All of the services aim to help people enjoy a better quality of life despite their physical health problems. This involves helping people with the difficult thoughts, feelings and choices that…

The aim of Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is to do more of what matters to us and have the most fulfilling life we can, despite having difficulties along the way. Do you feel like your life is on hold waiting for the pain to get better? Are you stuck, wishing that the pain would just go away? Do you struggle with the idea of accepting your pain? Do you feel that pain has taken away who you used to be? ACT could help you live your life again despite having pain. What is ACT? The aim of ACT is to…

Perinatal describes the time from pregnancy up until a year after you’ve had your baby. Pregnancy, birth and looking after a baby are life changing events and with it, which although are mostly positive, can also be challenging. Many new parents will go through a huge variety of emotions during this time and some may struggle. If you are experiencing difficult feelings and they are having an effect on your daily life, it may be that you have mental health difficulties. Below is listed the range of mental health difficulties that new mothers may experience.  Signs/symptoms of perinatal depression (PND)…

Further easing of visiting restrictions Visiting restrictions eased at WVT hospitals in Herefordshire Information for patients and carers We have three modern and comfortable community hospitals. If you are a patient in an acute hospital, such as Hereford County Hospital, your doctors and nurses may now think you are well enough to be moved to a Community Hospital. We would like to tell you more about them, their modern facilities and the nurses, doctors and therapists there. This information may also be of interest to you if you are at home and due to be admitted for care. If you…

Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing Organism information for patients This information will be given to patients in hospital if they have a positive result for this organism.

Health chiefs in England are encouraging parents to be aware of the signs of respiratory illnesses in young children, as data from Public Health England (PHE) shows cases are starting to rise in parts of the country. Respiratory illnesses, including colds and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are very common in young children and we see them every year. Last winter, due to the various restrictions in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19, there were far fewer infections in younger people. This means many will not have developed immunity and so we may see more cases this year than in…